People sometimes use boats instead of the Suramadu bridge to travel between Madura and Surabaya. (Tempo)

The fee charged on the Surabaya-Madura (Suramadu) bridge for automobiles and trucks was cut by 50 percent today and it is expected that the cut will decrease the cost of logistics to Madura.

The government has not charged motorcycles since the middle of 2015. Automobiles, however, are still charged. The cost for big trucks was Rp 90,000. Now it is Rp 45,000. The cost of a middle-sized truck was Rp 60,000. Now it is Rp 30,000. The cost of a private vehicle was Rp 30,000. Now it is Rp 15,000. The cut will make the cost of goods in Madura competitive.

"The impact cannot be predicted today. Probably next week, the impact will be seen," said Suharyono, head of the Suramadu toll road, to Tempo.co on Tuesday.

Jasa Marga, the operator, is not bothered by the cut because the company is not the owner of the bridge. Jasa Marga is paid by the government to operate the bridge.

"We don't mind the cut. The owner is the government and the revenue is going to the government. We are just the operator," Jasa Marga corporate secretary Muhammad Sofyan said.

The local government is hoping for an improved economy after the fee decrease. With a similar price in goods between Madura and Surabaya, it is hoped that people might consider living in Madura.

"Nobody will invest in Madura if the fee is still high. Madura's real estate sector will skyrocket if Suramadu is free," East Java Governor Soekarwo said last month. (anh/dan)(+)